The Unclaimed Horizon

We often mistake the edges of our cities for empty space, labeling them as ‘wasteland’ or ‘wilderness’ simply because they do not conform to the rigid grid of our daily utility. Yet, these riverbanks and shifting plains are the true frontiers of the urban geography. They are the places where the city’s reach falters and the natural world reasserts its claim. In these liminal zones, we see a different kind of inhabitant—one that does not require a permit to exist, nor a structure to define its territory. When we look at these spaces, we are forced to confront the arrogance of our own planning. We build walls and roads to domesticate the earth, but the earth remains indifferent to our boundaries. Who is the true resident of the land when the concrete ends? Is the city a place for all living things, or have we merely carved out a temporary enclosure for ourselves, ignoring the complex, wild neighbors who watch us from the periphery?

Saniar Rahman Rahul has taken this beautiful image titled Long-legged Buzzard. It captures a moment of stillness on the riverbanks, reminding us that the city is not just a human construct, but a shared habitat. Does this bird belong to the city, or do we belong to its territory?